The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit, scheduled for June 6-9 at the Charlotte Convention Center, will include a “Charlotte-only session” designed to connect local entrepreneurs with local contracting opportunities, officials announced Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference where BE officials laid out new details about the summit, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said the session is meant to advance the city’s efforts to improve the local climate for minority-owned businesses. The session will include businesses as well as government entities.
Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., president and CEO of Black Enterprise, said the Charlotte-only session will be a departure from previous summits.
“We carved out specifically a session to make sure that the people who are living here, who pay taxes here, are being given the opportunity to do business with these respective companies, he said.”
Organizers are predicting that about 1,200 people will attend the event, which is reaching out to other recruit business owners in cities throughout the region.
Organizers also announced an event called Black Food Truck Thursday on June 7. The food event, meant to spotlight black-owned restaurants, is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. near the Harvey B. Gantt Center.
Speakers at the summit will include:
- Don Peebles, who heads the nation’s largest black-owned real estate firm. Peebles also is lead developer on Charlotte’s Brooklyn Village project.
- Troy Taylor, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, one of Coca-Cola’s largest distributors.
- Carla Hall, a chef and national television personality. Hall is a co-host on ABC’s “The Chew.”
- Byron Allen, a former comedian and current entertainment mogul who recently purchased the Weather Channel in a deal valued at $300 million.
Other articles we’ve posted about the summit:
Mitchell: Charlotte to host 2018 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit
Dates, details emerge for Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit in Charlotte
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